Pinuno party-list Rep. Howard Guintu is pushing for the upgrade and rehabilitation of the Roxas Airport in Capiz province.
During a recent hearing on the 2025 budget of the Department of Transportation, Guintu lamented challenges facing the Roxas Airport, such as lack of toilets and outdated airport facilities.
He also raised the need for a passenger tube so that travelers would no longer have to walk on the tarmac to the aircraft.
“Kapansin-pansin na ang ating paliparan ay nangangailangan ng rehabilitasyon at improvement ng mga pasilidad na ginagamit ng mga pasahero. Makikita natin na malayo ang kapasidad at quality ng ating paliparan kapag ikumpara sa Iloilo International Airport,” the Capiznon solon said.
“Maliit ang kapasidad ng paliparan, luma na ang mga pasilidad, at konti lang ang banyo na magagamit ng mga pasahero. Bukod pa rito, mahirap kapag umuulan, lalo na para sa ating mga persons with disabilities, dahil kailangan pang maglakad sa tarmac paakyat o’kaya palabas ng eroplano,” he added.
For its part, the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines said that funds under its 2025 budget have been allocated for the rehabilitation and improvement of the Roxas Airport.
“We are giving priority on the control tower. The control tower will have to be abandoned, so we already have a mobile tower in position that will take over before we start renovating or demolishing the existing,” said CAAP Director General Manuel Antonio Tamayo.
“Yun ang priority, kasi it’s for operations. The rest of the facilities we are aware of the deficiencies including the toilets,” he also said.IMT
